“Ecological Engineering in the Tropics” is a SUNY-ESF Environmental
Resource Engineering (ERE) Department course concerned with the study and development of sustainable restoration solutions for degraded tropical
ecosystems. The course provides an outstanding opportunity for engineering
students to “take their education on the road” and gain valuable experience by applying
what they are learning in the classroom to real world challenges.
The purpose of this fundraising effort is to provide direct financial
assistance to students, making it possible for them to participate in this
unique field experience. Your donation
is being made to the ESF College Foundation, and 100% of every donation will be
awarded directly to students selected by the ERE Department. The ESF College
Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit organization which handles all philanthropy for SUNY-ESF. The tax id
number for the Foundation is: 15-6023443. All charitable donations made to the ESF College Foundation
are fully tax deductible, as allowed by law.
For students participating in the course, benefits/impacts
include: a) increased hands on learning experience for undergraduates, b)
increased interdisciplinary activity between engineering and other
environmental sciences, and c) providing benefit to cultures experiencing rapid
population growth and associated economic and natural resource pressures.
Students completing this course will obtain key skills used in ecosystem restoration
projects.
In the field, students will complete surveys of land use
patterns and resulting watershed, river, mangrove, and coastal adjustments, and
then design sustainable restoration options for the coupled terrestrial-aquatic
system. The field component has been oriented around a 10-day field visit to Costa
Rica, Central America. The design will use ecological theory to create
sustainable systems that restore degraded ecosystems or treat pollution
loading. Design reports will define observed degradation, identify target
ecosystem functions, address pertinent constraints, describe alternative design
options, and justify the final design.
If you have any questions, or are interested in inspiring
others to support this project with your own challenge contribution, please
contact us at development@esf.edu or call us at
(315) 470-4948.
Thank you for your support!